FOREWORD

he Murray is a different river now from what it was when the majestic

paddle steamers were plying their trade between its banks at the turn of the

century, yet for those of us who have had the privilege to spend time

enjoying its changing moods, endless scenery and tranquil beauty, the river has lost

little of its allure.

Recent human endeavor has changed the river forever. The Murray-Darling

Basin is now the food basket of Australia, providing a living for approximately two

million people and with an annual production worth many billions of dollars. This

inland water system also supports a thriving recreation and tourism industry, much

of it centered around boating, including the operation of the remaining paddle

steamers.

This wealth has come at a price, however. Millions of trees have been removed

from the Murray's floodplain, initially to power the paddle steamers and then to

provide land for farming, horticulture and regional development. Major dams have

been built to harness water for irrigation and domestic water supply and the system

of locks and weirs built to provide navigation. All of this has reduced river flows

and affected the nature of floods that breathe life into the river.

T

Fortunately, there is a growing public awareness that things cannot continue in the

same way, if we want future generations to be able to enjoy the splendour of the Mighty

Murray. Limits have been put in place on the amount of water that can be taken from the

Murray, salinity mitigation measures are being implemented and the State and Federal

Governments have agreed at the highest level on the need to return water to improve the

health of the river system.

This book recaptures the glory days of the River Murray, before it was 'tamed', when

its riches flowed from boom to bust, its waters from flood to drought, and when men

built proud craft to travel the length of the river to open up the heart of Australia.

It is a colorful book, evocative of the complexity and challenges of the river and its

people. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anybody who has an interest

in the history of the River Murray.

K

ARLENE

M

AYWALD

MP

S

OUTH

A

USTRALIAN

M

INISTER FOR THE

R

IVER

M

URRAY

J

ULY

2004